This song was inspired by "The Cold Heart" (German: Das kalte Herz), a fairy tale written by Wilhelm Hauff. It was published in 1827 in a collection of fairy tales that take place within the narrative of The Spessart Inn.
Although written almost 200 years ago, the described conflicts of mankind are still up-to-date, maybe even more than before. Preferring status und prosperity over humanity is something which has become socially acceptable.

Special thanks for prelistening and precious ideas to my dear friend Gary Reeves!

Lyrics
Peter was in the charcoal business
never in peace with the live he was living
made a deal with the forest spirit
Three wishes and a new life given

Descending to the darkest corners of humanity
what was it you were thinking of when you lost your pity
 
Inside your stone cold heart
You‘ve built a world of disregard

It did not play out like you were whishing for
glassworks went down and you needed much more
sold your heart to Dutch Mike to keep living
a heart of stone and the fortune you were given

Descending to the darkest corners of humanity
what was it you were thinking of when you lost your pity

Inside your stone cold heart
You‘ve built a world of disregard

Flourishing business kept you going
but your smile was eternally frozen
when your drivers faded and you had murdered love
nothing left there but an empty heart

Descending to the darkest corners of humanity
what was it you were thinking of when you lost your pity

Inside your stone cold heart
You‘ve built a world of disregard

Stone Cold Heart

This song was written eight years ago as the darkness of the first Trump presidency was making itself known. And now once again we have the unthinkable -- this disastrous human being with power at his fingers.  And he's already busy spreading lies, fear, and hate.

Liisa Pentti https://soundcloud.com/liisapentti did guest vocals on this 2019 version, and it's the definitive one -- I love what she did.

Ever Since the Rainbow

ever since the rainbow left the evening sky
waiting and hoping seem such a waste of time
into the air we fly into the seams we dive
as if the dust of a broken down dream
could start the engine fire

the passage of time this endless ennui
rivers and threads between you and me
sleep and dream again and again
an old man's finger tapping on a window pane
we dream and breath we love and grieve
remember that we share the same blood and air

the innocent sunrise the whispering day
dark clouds rising that will pass away
I know that these things that bind you to the common marrow
will rise up in your veins to remind you
remember that we share the same blood and air

Spotify Link

Ever Since the Rainbow

Time For A Revolution -with AnandaTuk

Sun Rise

Port Charm

Weil du in mir bist

I did not use AI support at any stage in the creation of this piece.

When I started composing this piece in December, after buying Spitfire Originals Intimate Strings on sale, I had these thoughts: If this is what the future is going to look like, I didn't sign up for it. Although in my youth I read and watched a lot of SF films presenting both utopia and dystopia, I always preferred the bright future. However, what I see on TV, on YouTube and outside my window is starting to resemble the latter...

Despite this, I hope you like the piece at least a little bit

To make this track I used:
Ableton Live 11 Standard
Spitfire Originals Intimate Strings
Spitfire Originals Cinematic Percussion
Spitfire BBC SO Discover (free)
Soundpaint 1928 Vintage Steinway Grand Piano (free)
Arturia Augmented Voices
Arturia Augmented Mallets Play (free)
Strezov Sampling Afflatus Minimalist Violins Legato Freebie (free for Kontakt Player)

Beside plug-ins I used 3 samples:
Two from BBC Sample Library:
- Rioting - Riot in Belfast - with breaking glass, rubber bullets, distant cries and chants
- Chatter - Club atmosphere, busy mixed chatter at mealtime (mid-distance) - 1981 (1C25,reprocessed)
and from Freesample.org
Real War - Marines in Firefight Gunbattle (Raw audio) by qubodup

Picture in cover: Freepik

Future Perfect?

Manic riff for 2 tenor saxes held together (some of the time) by sensible flutes, 'bass' alto saxes and trad. beat. 
Pic. by NM - from hot air balloon trip in 2007...the first (and last).

Crosstown Dash

Bombs drop

Super nova lights 
The southern sky
Right before the bombs drop
Ending all of life

1,2
3,4
Shut the fucking door


I walk across this earth
It’s truths written in lies
The sun kisses my face
I’m already dead inside

Before Bomb$ Drop

jigs T is not responsible for any kind of brain damage , listen at your own risk 😂

stimulants

Like that - acoustic

I like Soundcloud because it's a friendly community for sharing our music. When I comment on a track, I like to say something about how you wrote, performed or produced it. I have musically diverse interests: pop/rock, jazz-rock fusion, prog & alternative rock, blues, classical and neoclassical, to mention some. Main instrument is guitar; I'm not a keyboard player or singer, but hopefully I can do enough there to make my work sound ok.

Port Charm

Steve Matthews